Serissa Bonsai
Serissa japonica / Serissa foetida
Bonsai Trees Difficulty: Hard
📖 About this plant
A small tropical bonsai known as the ‘Tree of a Thousand Stars’ for its profuse small white star-shaped flowers that can appear sporadically year-round. Serissa has tiny oval leaves, often variegated in green and white, and an attractive gnarled trunk that develops with age. A popular indoor bonsai, though it is sensitive to environmental changes and may drop leaves when moved.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
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Light
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
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Water
Every 2-3 days
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Humidity
High (60-80%)
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Temperature
15-24°C
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Soil
Well-draining moisture-retentive bonsai soil; slightly acidic; pH 5.5-6.5
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Fertilizer
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during growing season; reduce in winter; avoid strong fertilizers that can burn delicate roots
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Japan, China, Southeast Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 10-20 cm (bonsai form)
- 📐 Spread
- 10-20 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Year-round
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green, White Variegated
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic to humans and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Semi-hardwood cuttings in summer with rooting hormone; air layering in spring; division of clumps
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic to humans and pets
Common issues
- Sudden leaf drop from environmental changes (temperature, light, watering) — the 'serissa sulk', Chlorosis from hard water or alkaline soil, Scale insects and whitefly, Root rot from overwatering, Frost damage — must never be exposed to cold
💡 Care tips
- Also called Tree of a Thousand Stars for its tiny white flowers,Very sensitive to changes in conditions dropping leaves when stressed,Requires consistently moist soil and high humidity indoors,Not recommended for absolute beginners due to its fussy nature
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One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 14 days.
